WOMAN NARROWLY ESCAPES DEATH: She had meant to cut down that old dead tree in the front yard. But the expense was so great. It was on her ‘to-do’ list. Last night the old tree saved her life. A huge mighty 85 year old elm tree crashed toward her house and is merely resting on the entranceway, barricading her door shut, because the old dead tree acted as a shield and saved her from being crushed in her home.